Page 16 of Winter Sun

“I’m sure she appreciates that,” Estelle said.

Katrina winced. Agatha wasn’t anything like Estelle’s mother, who’d passed away many years ago. Estelle’s mother had been a doll—just about the sweetest woman Katrina had ever known.

Before Katrina could think of a way to change the subject, she heard Sophie’s voice barreling out over the other conversations in the living room. Near an enormous monstera plant, Sophie was sidled up alongside Patrick, her hand over his shoulder, her eyes on his face. She was laughing and carrying on like a much younger woman at a very different party. Katrina’s stomach tightened with fear. Suddenly, Sophie and Patrick turned and headed for the hallway leading to the kitchen.

Katrina felt a sudden urge to go after them. To save them from themselves.

“I have to go,” Katrina said to Estelle.

“I’ll save you a seat.”

Katrina didn’t answer. She ducked through the crowd, past the cheeses, cookies, and chocolate trays. She weaved past conversations about football games and college scholarships and past perfume scents, most of them too floral.

Katrina paused at the entrance to the kitchen and took a deep breath. It seemed that the kitchen had cleared out. OnlySophie and Patrick were there, stationed at the counter. Patrick was pouring them two glasses of something bubbly from a dark green bottle. Katrina’s heart seized. As they raised their glasses, Katrina lurched into the room and said, “I’d ask you to think twice before drinking that.”

Sophie jumped with surprise and dropped her glass. Instantly, stares scattered to all corners of the kitchen, lining the gaps between the ornate tiles.

“Mom!” Sophie howled angrily, staring down at the wet spot on the ground. “It’s non-alcoholic champagne!”

Katrina’s heart thudded. Patrick set his glass of “non-alcoholic champagne,” whatever that was, on the counter and waved his hands. “Nobody move. I need to find a broom.” He looked calm, as though this kind of thing happened all the time.

Sophie used her left hand to tuck her hair behind her ear. There was a flash. Katrina gaped at Sophie’s hand, at the ring she’d most definitely not been wearing at the hospital earlier today. Patrick busied himself in various cabinets, whistling, stepping lightly.

“What’s that?” Katrina asked.

All the color drained from Sophie’s cheeks. She looked at her mother fearfully.

“The ring?” Katrina demanded.

Sophie slowly extended her fingers to show it off. Together, Katrina and Sophie stared down at it, at this tiny yet uniquely vintage-looking diamond ring. Only months ago, Sophie’s divorce from Jared had gone through. And now, already, she wanted to leap into something again? With this other addict? Was she insane?

“I see,” Katrina said.

Sophie balled her left hand into a fist and returned it to her side. She looked stricken. “We were about to make an announcement.”

Patrick froze by the cabinet and turned to look at Katrina. Katrina felt frozen with indecision. She knew, abstractly, what she was supposed to do as a mother. She was supposed to throw her arms around Sophie and Patrick. She was supposed to cry with happiness.

But before Katrina could respond, Oriana entered the kitchen. “Did I hear something break?”

“We had a little accident,” Patrick said, his voice bright.

“That’s all right!” Oriana assured them. “I’m the biggest klutz in this house. Reese says I break a glass once a week!”

Sophie’s face calmed, and she matched Oriana’s smile. Suddenly, she extended her left fingers again and said, “I was just freaking out a little bit. Because Patrick proposed. And I’ve been trying to figure out how to tell everyone!”

Oriana’s jaw dropped. “Engaged?” she cried, loud enough that the word seemed to reverberate through the house. “Goodness! Leave the glass. Let’s get you out here to celebrate!” Oriana took Sophie’s hand and guided her out of the kitchen and into the living room. “Patrick, you too!” She announced, “Everyone! These lovebirds have a wonderful announcement! Gather around to hear!”

Katrina remained in the shadows of the kitchen, listening as all one hundred and fifty people championed her daughter’s newfound love. There was so much they didn’t know about Sophie. There was so much they would never understand. The glass at Katrina’s feet sparkled ominously, and she walked carefully to the larger broom closet in the hallway to retrieve a dustpan and a broom. As everyone covered Sophie and Patrick in hugs and kisses, Katrina took extra care to clean the kitchen floor. Over and over again, she asked herself if this engagement was part of Sophie’s redemption. Or would it lead to her demise?

It was so hard to tell with Sophie. Katrina had seen it all before.

Oriana gave Grant and Katrina the larger of the four guest rooms. The space featured a California King, antique furnishings, more modern art, and a bay window that pressed out against the sharp January winds, illustrating a backdrop of stars and the spindly shadows of the trees that lined the property. Katrina sat all by herself on the edge of the bed, with only the bedside lamp on. The party continued downstairs as voices reverberated through the stairwells and hallways. Every once in a while, Katrina was sure she heard someone exclaim, “Sophie! You’re getting married!” Katrina hadn’t seen Sophie once since the big reveal. She alternated between feelings of intense shame and fear.

There was a knock on the door. “Kat? It’s me, Grant.”

Katrina fell back across the mattress with her arms on either side. “Come in.”

Grant tiptoed in.

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